Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-04-15
A race bef,reen Life and Death

A race between Life and Death.
regiment, the man who had been nobody's
friend, nobody's chum, was lying in the
midst Of them with his back broken, waiting
! for hurdle
They were all as sorry as men could be
who had never been moved by feelings If
friendship. The proceedings were stopped
at once, and they went gravely back to bar
racks, those who bad ridden to get into
| morning clothes, aud all Of them to hang
about waiting for news
But there was no hope, absolutely no hope
whatever. With all his fsults failinDs and
pecuiiarities, Gavor Gilchrist was passing
| away from their midst by exchange, as Har-
tog had once wished-the exchange not Of
one regiment for another, but Of this world
| for the next.
1t was about o'clock that the senior Of
the two surgeons in attendance on Glchrist
entered the anteroom, and, looking around,
beckoned for Bottles.
"What newsl" asked several voices.
HE won't last the night. Bottles, b
wants you"
"I'n come" said Bottles, rising.
'Sure to want Bootles," observed Preston.
'Oh, yes; should myself" returned
another.
"Won't last the night remarked q third
"Well, I never did like Gilchrist-never;
but al the same, I'm deuced sorry for him
now, poor chap. For oh. by Jovsi it's Q
fearful thing when you come to that"
And then they fell into silence again. wait
| ing for Bottles to come back. Half an
hour passed-three-quart then BOTTLES
peared-came with . white face and a
scared look in his blue eyes, followed by the
doctor who had fetched him. Every man
in the room was reused from q lounxing
attitude to one Of expectation and surprise.
"Bootles," said Lacy, moving towa ards
him.
But Bottles did not even look at him. He
turned to the doctor and uttered words the
like of which none Of his bearers had ever
heard from him before.
II kept my temper, doctor-you think I
did, know the mans dying. Yes, know,
and shouldn't like to think lost my tenn
per with q poor chap who was dying, but
but No; won't say q WORD. I'll 60
away and keep to myself until I've got over
1t little. II l stop here shall say some
thing I shall Be sorry for all the rest Of my
life"
"What is it, Bootlesr' broke in Lacy, in
his soft voice. sest
But Bottles did not reply for q moment
BE stood still, trying hard to control him
self; but Lacy, who had laid his hand upon
his sleeve, felt that be was shaking from
head to foot, and his very lips were trem-
bling.
Tell Us" said Lacy persuasively. "what
h It'll"
He il Mgnou's fatherr' Bottles an
swered And then b broke from LAcys
grasp and fed.
'ImpossibleI" Lacy cried.
"Not at all; it Is true" the doctor answered.
''He Is making his will now, leaving BOTTLES
sold guardian and trustee to tbs child"
The brutel" burst out Preston, indig-
nantly, remembering 0lchrist's words, not
% long ago.
Hush, hushi Ths man \ dying, and
death alters everything" the doctor cried
"And Boobies kept his temperi Said moth
w"Not one word-of rsproAch" 81
HAS he seen heri'
mo. He would not. though Bottles
asked him"
His own child-and shs Mis- Mienonw
"Au the better. She cannot endure
him"
by Jovel But what blow for BootlesIn
"How will he take 1T WIN it make any
difIerenceF'
"As wregards Nim Mgnonl What wrot
you talk. Az II Boobies" But there
Lacy broke Of In disgust, and the babel Of
surmises, questions and answers went ON.
And that night Gavor Gilchrist died. /
Ito be continually